It’s official, the Articles of Impeachment art in the hands of the Senate. This as Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has signed the documents, sending them off to the Senate last night, via the appointment 'House Managers.'
The 'House Managers' are the Representatives that will "prosecute" the impeachment trial in the Senate. Once received, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell launched into the procedural business that will see the Senate trial of President Trump will likely start on Tuesday.
Meanwhile...Pelosi is taking heat over what happened after she signed articles of impeachment against the President. She started handing out pens after the signing, which a number of people are startled by. "It was unusual to see that kind of ceremony and handing out the pens and smiling for a picture in this kind of situation,” says CNN host Dana Bash. “As the House speaker has bent over backwards to say publicly and privately, 'This is somber, this is not a time for celebration’.”
Trump was impeached on December 18th for abusing his power and obstructing Congress in the investigation of the Ukraine scandal. The Senate trial will determine if Trump is removed from office. Acquittal is expected in the Republican-led Senate.
Adding to the drama? The House revealed new impeachment evidence just hours before sending the two impeachment articles to the Senate. Chairman Adam Schiff says he has two flash drives – one containing call records and another of text messages and letters. There are also voicemails to consider. They were apparently handed over by Lev Parnas, an indicted associate of President Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani.
But that’s not all...Parnas has been interviewed by MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow – and claims Trump was fully aware of his connection to efforts to pressure Ukraine's president to investigate the Bidens. Parnas says that he wouldn't have done anything without the consent of Giuliani or Trump. The revelations come as Parnas and another Giuliani associate face charges for making illegal campaign contributions to a Trump super PAC.
Source: ABC News